Travel Planning Intel
Answering recent questions with these links
Hi Friends,
I’m editing and loading this week’s post from beautiful Wellington, New Zealand, where I have been the last 10 days. This is my first time in New Zealand and I am so excited about the stunning beauty, the incredible birds, and delicious coffee. When this email hits your inboxes I will be on a 11-hour train journey from Wellington all the way up through the North Island to Auckland. I have read and seen photos of this train journey and it looks STUNNING. After a week in Auckland, I will be flying all the way to the bottom of the South Island to spend a week in Wanaka - which looks to be one of the most beautiful places in the world. More soon on all of it!
This Week
Welcome to this week’s Pied À Terre Life, a round-up of previous posts to answer several questions I’ve received recently regarding long-haul travel layovers, money, ideas for places to travel, and more. You can click through the links to dive deeply into all the topics. Enjoy!
Lounge Life
I was chatting with some folks recently about longer travels and their layovers in different parts of the world. After inquiring about their airline lounge access, I asked if they knew about what I call “pay-to-play” lounges. They did not and I was delighted to enlighten them. Click HERE for the full explanation and start planning to make your airport layovers more enjoyable.
Money & Cell Phones
These are two of my favorite topics to chat with folks about because I had to learn through my own trial and error and now I want everyone to have the intel I do! Find out what card I recommend to access cash with no conversion fees and NO ATM charges.
Cell phone service is topic that makes me HOT (and not in a sexy way). The ridiculousness of Verizon Wireless International Plan should be illegal. I could not believe their nonsense.
Click HERE to read about the above and make your moves.
Hot Italian Summer: Bologna and Emilia-Romagna
Are you planning to go to Italy this summer?
My first advice would be - cancel summer and go in the shoulder season. But if you have been reading PATL for a bit or checked out my other (many) Italy posts (like this one for Venice) you know how opposed I am to folks visiting in the summer. Especially if it is your first time in Italy! Just no. Italy is wonderful but summer is increasingly unpleasant. Too hot, too crowded, and crazy. My personal sweet spots are late autumn (naturally) and winter - absolutely divine.
If you are planning a trip to Bologna in any season, I want to be sure to direct you to one of the very best people to book an experience with, Benedetta or “my bologna”. You can read about my epic food walking tour with Benedetta HERE. It is such a value at 39 euros.
We were in touch last month and she let me know that this year she has added two more experiences that I would HIGHLY recommend: Benedetta is now offering an intimate cooking class experience with a Chef where you will make Tagliatelle Ragu and Totrellini with Ricotta. I can’t wait to book this on my next visit.
Next is an epic day tour of the Modena visiting a Parmigiano master; a historic balsamic house and a winery. Food is provided at every stop and you are bound to go home full and happy.
These are brand new offerings for 2024 but I know they will be fantastic because Benedetta is one of the best hosts I’ve ever had the delight to encounter.
Reach out to Benedetta directly through her website mybologna.com
Ins & Outs & Trends
Finally, I am linking to one of my most popular posts which is my personal round-up of Ins & Outs & Trends in travel, female-travel and what’s interesting for 2024 and beyond. Use it for inspiration and exploring possibilities for your own travels. Let me know your thoughts or if you have questions. Click HERE.
There you have it! I hope this list gives you some good ideas and solutions for your own travel adventures.
Let me know what plans you have for travel this spring and summer? I would love to know what you’re dreaming about making a reality soon. Shoot me a message!
ciao for now…